Early second half goals key for Town

Early second half goals key for Town

Two goals in the opening four minutes of the second half proved decisive as Enniskillen Town secured their place in Round Two of the Mulhern Cup with a 3-0 derby win over Enniskillen Athletic.

The game was in the balance at half time with neither side able to break the deadlock in the opening 45 minutes but Town scored through Davy Callaghan in the first minute of the second half and when Stephen Clarke added a second moments later the tie was as good as over.

Rory Judge’s Town then went on to wrap up the win when Seamus Quigley headed home to send them through to an away meeting with Beragh Swifts in the next round.

Judge felt his side were far from their best in the game but was pleased to progress.

“I thought we played poorly on the day but we got away with it and were happy to be in the next round.

“In the opening half an hour of the game we resorted to pumping it long but the ball was just coming back at us, however, we started to get it down towards the end of the half and their goalkeeper made two good saves.

“The key to the game though was the opening to the second half when we scored twice and really it was game over after that,” he said.

And Athletic manager Anthony Fitzpatrick agreed with that.

“There wasn’t really any way back for us when we went 2-0 down and I would be disappointed overall that although we were missing a number of regulars, we didn’t play anything like we can,” he said.

Town too were without a handful of starters for the game and Judge is worried that a rising injury list is going to cost them.

“We have been in good form recently but the injury list is concerning and we lost Paul Coalter as well on Saturday. We have Tummery in the league this Saturday and it will be a case of seeing what fit bodies we have available for the game. Our goal with regards the league is to finish as high as possible and we have to play those teams that are sitting above us,” added Judge.

It was Division Two promotion hopefuls Athletic who had the first real chance on Saturday but they failed to find the target when one on one against Gary Doherty in the Town goals. Athletic also felt they had a good handball shout in the opening period but there appeals fell on death ears.

In the closing stages of the half though Town began to get a grip on proceedings with Quigley firing over from a Clarke pull back while Clarke was then twice denied by Ryan McNulty in the Athletic goal.

An injury to Darren Rodgers was a big blow for Athletic and his absence was sorely felt as they conceded twice in quick succession early in the second period.

Callaghan, who had replaced the injured Coalter in the first half, swept home the opener from the edge of the box.

And soon after Town doubled their lead through a fine individual effort from Clarke who broke down the left before cutting in and squeezing his shot past McNulty at the near post.

Quigley then rounded off the scoring with a fine header from a Mark Little cross to leave it 3-0 at the finish as Town moved into Round Two.

Although disappointed with the defeat, Fitzpatrick admits that the league remains his side’s priority as they battle for promotion to the top flight.

“The league is the most important thing for us and although we will again be missing players this Saturday,we’ll be looking to get another three points on the board when we take on Glebe. We will just try and look after ourselves in terms of results and see where it takes us ,” commented Fitzpatrick.

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